The Los Angeles Clippers (34-34) and New Orleans Pelicans (23-46) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. The game will broadcast live on Gulf Coast Sports.
The Pelicans are 2-point favorites over the Clippers on the spread (Pelicans -2), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. New Orleans is a -130 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, March 18.
Clippers vs Pelicans Prediction, Pick
- Clippers vs Pelicans pick: Pelicans -2 (-110)
My Pelicans vs. Clippers best bet is on New Orleans to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs Pelicans Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -110 | 234.5 -108o / -112u | +110 |
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -110 | 234.5 -108o / -112u | -130 |
Clippers vs Pelicans NBA Preview
This is all about the injury report. I think Kawhi Leonard will give it a go for the Clippers tonight. However, I think Darius Garland will sit this one out.
Leonard sat out the Clippers' matchup against the Spurs the other night, so he'll be coming off three full days of rest. I don't see any reason for Kawhi to miss this game.
In his press conference the other day, Leonard basically said, "I don't care where we are in the standings. We are trying to win. Let's win more games."
So, after a stretch where he played three-of-four games, the Clippers gave him a couple of extra days off by letting him miss a tough matchup against the Spurs, which was probably smart.
Now, he draws a much easier matchup against the Pelicans tonight.
Dejounte Murray is questionable for New Orleans in this game, so keep an eye on that.
These teams just played two weeks ago, and the Clippers won by a score of 137-117, with the spread in that game set at Clippers -8.5.
Zion Williamson did not participate in that matchup, which matters — but this is still a 10-point swing on the spread.
If Garland doesn't go and Murray potentially returns, I just think it is too big of a shift from the line that was set for this same matchup two weeks ago.
Clippers vs Pelicans Predictions, Betting Analysis
The main reason I'm backing the Pelicans on the spread here is because I don't really understand how the oddsmakers got to this number.
I know the Pelicans are playing better basketball lately, but it feels like the market is trying to tell me something with the Pelicans listed as 2-point favorites on the spread.
Even if Kawhi does play, I don't think this line will move much. Leonard has been incredible lately, but even after taking his recent form into consideration, he still shouldn't be worth more than four or five points on the spread.
This number feels like a signal. I'm going to lay the two points with the Pelicans tonight. My sharp senses are tingling a bit here.
Pick: Pelicans -2 (-110)
